Chapitre 2. Health in Russia, a basic topic: Risk strategies and socio-psychological aspects

High mortality rates in the Russian Federation in all age cohorts, which are exacerbated nowadays due to the risk of contracting a new coronavirus infection, indicate the lack of programs to promote a healthy lifestyle in society, as well as the preservation of negative attitudes of society associated with any aspects of taking care of one’s health.Switching the public’s attention to self-preservation practices is not viable without considering the socio-economic and psychological conjuncture. Maintaining health requires both time and money, so for many people it remains a secondary task for many years, if the disease does not make itself felt.By appealing to the individual’s choice of a voluntary strategy of the preservation of their health, the state should make sure that they are ready to show a high level of self-awareness and culture. However, there is a stable tradition of risky behaviors in Russian society, in which ignoring the first signs of the disease, the transition of the disease to severe forms, and indifferenceе to the outcome of treatment became a social norm. In this vein, individuals show a disregard for new approaches and often aggravate their problem by resorting to alcohol and drugs, which leads to serious health related consequences.The study of aspects of an individual’s choice of risky life strategies showed the interdependence of the level of health preservation on the material and psychological well-being of a social group (i.e., family). The lower the satisfaction of an individual’s needs in society, the higher the apathy and tendency to addiction, which is often followed by crimes against the life and health of others or a tendency to suicide.